What is considered an act of discrimination under federal fair housing laws?

Refusing to rent to families with children constitutes an act of discrimination under federal fair housing laws. The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination in housing based on several protected characteristics, including familial status, which encompasses households with children. By denying rental opportunities to families simply because they have children, this action directly violates the protections established by the Fair Housing Act.

The other options do not accurately depict acts of discrimination in a way that aligns with federal fair housing laws. For example, limiting housing opportunities to only one religious group, such as Catholics, would also be discriminatory but is not specific to the Fair Housing Act's emphasis on familial status, race, color, national origin, sex, disability, and religion. Requiring higher deposits from minorities is discriminatory as it introduces an unfair financial parameter based on race. Rejecting applicants based on credit history alone is generally not considered discriminatory unless the credit history is used as a proxy for race, ethnicity, or other protected classes. Therefore, option A is the more comprehensive example of discrimination as defined by federal standards.